Esee Laser Strike: What is it good for?

S

Space Monkey

Joined
Mar 7, 2015
Messages
9
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I've had an Esee Laser Strike as my principal fixed blade knife for about two years now.
I've used it for a lot of different tasks, from preparing food to pruning trees, and I've come to a conclusion that it doesn't do any of those things well. I can't say it's a bad knife, it is just impractical for everything.
I've also never managed to sharpen it to my satisfaction. I can get a razor edge on the Benchmade (154CM) using the Sharpmaker, but Laser Strike feels dull even when it easily cuts paper.

I have some other pet peeves about the jimping and uneven scales, but I won't bore you with that.
My question for those who use this knife is what exactly do you do with it, and find it useful?
What other knives would you recommend it that price bracket?

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Cheers.
 
I have never had or handled an esee laser strike, but I am just curious to know why you would keep it as your principle fixed blade if you feel it doesn't do anything you use it for well? Have you tried an esee 5 or 6? I used to have both the 5 and 6 and really enjoyed the esee 6, I would highly recommend giving that a shot if you haven't already. Nice picture btw!
 
I really like the look of this laser strike. Interesting. Now I want to get one just to test it for myself! Lol
 
joeyza said:
I have never had or handled an esee laser strike, but I am just curious to know why you would keep it as your principle fixed blade if you feel it doesn't do anything you use it for well? Have you tried an esee 5 or 6? I used to have both the 5 and 6 and really enjoyed the esee 6, I would highly recommend giving that a shot if you haven't already. Nice picture btw!
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I've tried to like all this time.
I've just recently decided that it's not going to happen.

I think all Esee knives are pretty similar. An inch shorter or longer wouldn't change my mind about the Laser Strike.
 
Space Monkey said:
I've tried to like all this time.
I've just recently decided that it's not going to happen.

I think all Esee knives are pretty similar. An inch shorter or longer wouldn't change my mind about the Laser Strike.
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Not so. The esee 3 is a completely different animal to the esee 4 I owned which would be similar to the strike. If it wasn't for the choil I would still own it. If you like choils...buy one.

I've never owned the strike as I didn't really like the looks of the handle. However, it is a lot similar to a Kephart so I would imagine it does most things okay. Assuming you didn't do any mods to the knife, I would suggest stripping the coating and maybe even lowering the edge angle a bit. At least knock the "shoulders" off of the transition between the primary and edge grinds. The biggest problem I see with all of these "survival knives" is that they're made for the lowest common denominator. i.e. youtubers who like pounding knives into cinder blocks and are scared to death that their knives will rust away.:) I haven't met a "survival knife" in this size range yet that didn't need the edge angle dropped. Except the esee 3. Great cutter out of the box. If you're not interest try the becker bk16. Another Kephart blade though.

If you detail what you need to do with the knife we can get you a little closer.
 
Preparing food? Pruning trees? The LS is a hefty blade, pushing into light chopping territory and batoning capability by combining a little length with thick stock. For food prep and other tasks which favor a thin slicer, the ESEE 3 is far better. For all out chopping, maybe a 6. The LS is a tweener. It attempts to be one size kinda fits all, and doesn't pretend to be specialized for any task.

A thin folder + LS covers a lot of ground.
 
I'm trying to get a feel for what knife would suit you better.
What is it exactly that you don't like about the LS and how would you improve it? Too thick, too wide, long, short?
 
I know nothing about fixed blades, but could it be used for bushcraft stuff?
 
bdmicarta said:
Well yes and no... it is thinner than the ESEE 5 or Becker 2, about the same thickness as similar length Bark Rivers.
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IME the edges are the "way to thick" part. Stock thickness isn't as much of an issue for a lot of woodworking. Most of these knives have edges a tad too thick for good carving. If you drop the edge a bit these knives become a lot more useful for bushcrafty things. And cutting apples. ;)
 
Shotgun said:
IME the edges are the "way to thick" part. Stock thickness isn't as much of an issue for a lot of woodworking. Most of these knives have edges a tad too thick for good carving. If you drop the edge a bit these knives become a lot more useful for bushcrafty things. And cutting apples. ;)
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Ah, I get what you are saying.
 
I would be happy to properly dispose of that ls for you. I've admired that model for some time now. Although I understand your sentiments about. I feel the same about my bk2.
 
I just got one yesterday. My first ESEE. I must say your post disheartened me a bit... .but what are your specific complaints? My initial thought were that this will make for a good all round camping/ bushcraft blade. It will be accompanying me on a upcoming overnight kayak trip down the raccoon river. My beloved Bark River Bravo will be sitting this one out. Big shoes for the laser strike to fill but I have high hopes.
 
Thanks for your opinion guys.
You've guessed it right, I enjoy the most a fine slicer.
When cutting an apple with the LS, it rips it apart instead of slicing. On the other hand, I found it difficult to sharpen a stick with it.

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RBid said:
A thin folder + LS covers a lot of ground.
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That's the way I'm leaning now.

FTR-14c said:
I'm trying to get a feel for what knife would suit you better.
What is it exactly that you don't like about the LS and how would you improve it? Too thick, too wide, long, short?
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Overall dimensions and ergonomics of the LS are Ok for me. The blade is too thick for fine work and the edge is small and narrow.

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Maverick299 said:
I just got one yesterday. My first ESEE. I must say your post disheartened me a bit... .but what are your specific complaints? My initial thought were that this will make for a good all round camping/ bushcraft blade. It will be accompanying me on a upcoming overnight kayak trip down the raccoon river. My beloved Bark River Bravo will be sitting this one out. Big shoes for the laser strike to fill but I have high hopes.
Click to expand...

I've also got it for bushcharft, camping and to use it around the house.
If you can carry it on your belt, or your pack, it should be good for this. I couldn't carry it comfortably and securely in the woods so I usually took a folder and a multitool.

What I dislike specifically is that jimping immediately creates a hot spot on my thumb and I have to change the grip. Scales aren't quite perfect, but there are alternatives now >> http://www.theknifeconnection.net/esee-laser-strike-scales/
And as I said above, edge shape and thickness.

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I have had no issues with any Becker or Esee knives, and have found both to be of a high quality and fit and finish. It could be the angle at which your knife is sharpened, as the LS can still cut well when dull. I hone mine at a 25 (or so) degree angle, which seems to bring out the knifes teeth. First day I got mine, I turned a magazine into slivers. So far it has cleanly cut through phone book paper, newspaper, polished wood on a cut, made thin wood feathers, chopped easily, sliced meat like a laser, and easily skins apples..lots of apples. Took me a couple of times to figure out the angle, but after I did, I was surprised by how well it could cut. Also, the swell at the end is good for gripping if one wants to extend its length for chopping. I hone free-handed typically on smiths stones, usually a aluminum oxide for heavy, india for moderate, and soft arkansas to polish.
 
I realize this is an old post but I found it interesting & I'd just like to say that I purchased an ESSEE Laser Strike as well, brand new. I took changed the angle of the cutting edge to enable a wider range of uses. In short, IMHO, the knife sux! The association with Randall made me believe that I was making a terrific purchase. Friend of mine is an ESSEE dealer so I got a really good buy. I pretty much hate the knife and deeply regret buying it at all. It's carbon as all of us here know, 1095, but cannot be sharpened with the employ of every rock I own and I've...important to pay close attention here just so everyone knows, NEVER owned even a half decent knife that I couldn't shave with if I chose to do so. All my other knives are that 'scary sharp' that'll reach out and grab you before you know it. My coworkers, Millwright & Nmap employee, used to pay me to sharpen their knives.
I'm sure the person who originally posted with the question here has remedied his situation by now but my fast and direct response to them would be to purchase a TOPS BOB Field craft in 154CM Stainless with a modified Scandi grind. It'll slice better, sharpen well enough to split hairs...so to speak, and will STAY THAT WAY a lot longer. Again just my thoughts based on what he describes as his issues with the ESSEE LS. Again I realize this is an old post/conversation, but perhaps this'll help someone else. As for the coating, and the thickness of the blade, you can save a lot of money, percentage wise, and go with an Ontario Rat3. It's blade thickness is only 1/8" so you won't be using it for a maul but it's pretty tough, rides higher on the hip and is...was, a good knife OKC is out of business at present, having been purchased by Blue Ridge Knives...who, BTW, does plan to keep the Ontario knife designs such as the Randall inspired models, alive. BTW, for that matter you can go with an Ontario 12" machette for the heavy work and something like one of a smaller TOPS product with that same Scandi grind in stainless steel and, like every man on the planet a good pocket knife. The Ontario machette is carbon like your ESSEE, but I found it VERY easy to put a razor edge on mine which, isn't really a desirable modification to dedicated machetes but let's just say mine is slotted for a different dedication and leave it at that. It alto has a rust preventive finish with the look and feel akin to Parkerizing. I'm going to trade my ESSEE for a TOPS that just happens to be in one of the new "Super Steel" grades of stainless. I'll be much happier with no thick blade coating, the Scandi grind, a knife that can be sharpened and will hold its edge a lot longer. Much of the latter is due in great part to the potential fast oxidation of the 1095 carbon of the ESSEE LS. It's just a headache to me. Get her where she feels like she's gonna roll the hair off my arm but just not quite...so, take her to the strop for a few passes and the danged this comes back duller...MUCH more dull than before stropped. I've worked it all the way down to black translucent Ultra Fine Surgical Grade stones. Edge will look perfect, not a semblance of a flat anywhere along the edge when "walked" under a high power light source. You just know it's there, still won't cut hot butter. If I can't trade mine for the tops, I'm throwing down the well.
 
Try the demko freereign.

Which is a surprisingly slicey knife tor it's thickness.

A high flat grind?

Anyway you can see that massive slope from the edge to the spine. Which i think thins the knife out at the part that is supposed to be thin.

 
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